Ultrasonic apparatus for hair joining

ABSTRACT

The method and apparatus for joining hair together utilizing ultrasonic vibrational energy in which the overlapping portions of the commercial hair and the live hair are maintained in fixed position to each other when the energy is introduced therein. The hair may be coated internally or externally with a thermoplastic material which acts as the bonding agent.

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,727,619

Kuris 1 51 Apr. 17, 1973 ULTRASONIC APPARATUS FOR HAIR [56] ReferencesCited JOINING UNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Invent Arthur Kuris, Riverda1e13,513,848 5/1970 Winston Biai ..l56/73 x m S st Inc Famin 3,578,5235/1971 Ohse ..l56/73X [73] Asslgnee El y ems g 3,464,102 9 1969 s611r..... .l56/73 x 3,480,492 11/1969 Hauser ..156/73 [22] Filed: Sept.14, 1971 1 Primary Examiner-Louis'G, Mancene [21] Appl 180423 AssistantExaminer--J. N. Eskovitz Related Us. Application Data Attorney-LeonardW. Suroff [62] Division of Ser. No. 885,830, Dec. 17, 1969, Pat. No. 57ABSTRACT The method and apparatus for joining hair together 52 us. (:1..l32/56, 156/73 utilizing ultrasonic vibrational energy in which the 51Int. Cl ..B29C 27/08 Overlapping portions of e commercial hair and the[58] Field of Search 132/56; 156/5 80, live hair are maintained in fixedPosition to each other 156/73; 228/] when the energy is introducedtherein. The hair may be coated internally or externally with athermoplastic material which acts as the bonding agent.

11 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures '50 I 51 25 2, 2 22 20 37 46 45 43 40 i u27 1,

PATEHTEUAFR 1 1 I915 3.727. 619

SHEET 2 BF 3 INVENTOR. ARTHUR KURIS ATTOR Y 7 PATENTEDAPR 1 3 3.727. 619

SHEET 3 0F 3 'VENTOR. A HUR KURIS ULTRASONIC APPARATUS FOR HAIR JOININGCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a division of applicationSer. No. 885,830, filed Dec. 17, 1969 now US. Pat. No. 3,642,010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally toimprovements in permanently attaching commercial hair to live hair andmore particularly to improved methods and apparatus for joining the hairtogether with ultrasonic mechanical vibrational energy. Ultrasonic isdefined as a general term referring to the generation and utilization ofvibratory mechanical energy, usually but not necessari- 1y beyond theaudible range.

Before proceeding to the details of the present invention, let us firstbriefly review generally known facts about hair weaving" as is generallyreferred to today. Two approaches to the problem are illustrated in US.Pat. Nos. 2,621,663 and 3,2955 34. Another procedure used today requiresthe actual tying of the hair together by forming knots, with an eventualretreatment required when the live hair grows out and the knot becomesvisible. This procedure of tying knots is extremely difficult and timeconsuming. Knots in generally also have a tendency to slip.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It. is the general object of the presentinvention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difficulties of,and objections to prior art practices by-the provision of improvedmethods and apparatus for joining hair with ultrasonic energy.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method by whichcommercial human hair can be joined or attached to live hair on thehuman head using ultrasonic energy.

Another object of the present invention is the reduction in timerequired to join hair as compared to prior practices. 7

Another object of the present invention is'to provide an ultrasonicrnethodof hair joining which may easily be performed by a person withoutany assistance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonicmethod of suturing which is less time consuming than procedurespracticed to date.

Another object of the present invention is to provide anultrasonicmethod and apparatus which eliminates the tying of knots in hairthickening practices.

Other objects of the present invention will become obvious and apparentas the disclosure proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION between the overlapping segments of hair.

The ultrasonic bonding is accomplished by using 7 members or weldingtips having a small area of contact,

with at least one of the welding tips being resiliently supported sothat'the welding tips can be moved relatively toward each other, in away similar to the prongs of a pair of tweezers, for suitably grippingthe hairs. Positioning means are preferably provided on one of thewelding elements for accurately locating and retaining segments of thehair in overlapping relationship to each other and with respect to thewelding tips.

The ultrasonic energy is introduced in a proper direction through atleast one of the welding tips, which take the form of supporting andvibratory means, at a suitable frequency and amplitude to cause ajoining or welding together of the held hair segments.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention one or both of thehairs to be joined may be coated or impregnated externally, internally,or both, with a BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Although thecharacteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointedout in the claims, the invention itself, and the manner in which it maybe made and used, may be better understood by referring to the fol- Ilowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsforming a part hereof, wherein like reference numerals refer to likeparts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. I, is a view in side elevation of a persons head showing the mannerin which hair is secured to existing hairs with ultrasonic energy;

FIG. 2, is a top longitudinal view of one form of ultrasonic system, ofthe type capable of being hand held and manipulated, for joining hairsin accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3, isa side longitudinal view, partly in cross sec- .tion of theultrasonic system of FIG. 2; FIG.4, is a somewhat diagrammatic viewillustrating the application of a bonding agent to the human hair;

FIGS. 5-10 inclusive, are somewhat diagrammatic views on an enlargedscale showing the manner in which additional strands of natural orartificial hairs are secured to existing hairs;

FIG. 11, is a somewhat diagrammatic view on an enlarged scale showingthe manner in which additional artificial or supplementary hair strandsare joined to an individual hair;

FIG. 12, is a somewhat diagrammatic view on an enlarged scale showingthe manner in which the bonding agent is contained within the core ofthe hair; and

FIGS. 13 and 14, diagrammatically illustrate the joining of asupplemental hair of a plastic material to a human hair.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION a Referring to the drawing, andparticularly to FIGS. 1-3 thereof, 10 indicates the scalp-of a personshead on which it is assumed there is growing a certain amount of livehair 11. In accordance with the practice of the present invention it isdesired to increase the number of hairs on the scalp 10, by theattachment of artificial or natural hair 12, to the existing live hairs11 with an ultrasonic welding instrument 15. The added hair may be of asynthetic plastic material.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate one form of the ultrasonic system for joiningtogether overlapping segments of the hairs 11 and 12 to form a junctionportion or zone 14. The system includes vibrator means 16 in the formofa hand held instrument, including an ultrasonic transducer or motor 18for effecting the high frequency vibrations of the tool member 20terminating in a working surface 21 that extends in a planesubstantially normal to the direction of mechanical vibrationsillustrated by the arrow 22. The base 23 of the tool member 20 issecured to an insert portion 24. Supporting means 25 is provided to actas an anvil or clamp, so that the overlapped layers of hair 11 and 12may be compressed between the positioning means in the form of a grooveor slot 26 on the tool 20 and slot 27 provided on said support means.

The ultrasonic motor 18, as illustrated, may be in the form of a drivingmemberadapted for being hand held as by an operator 30, and generallycomprising a tubular housing or casing 31 into which the insert unit 24-supporting the tool member 20 may be partially telescoped. Theultrasonic motor 18 is energized by an oscillation generator 32 with apower cable 33, connecting the two together. The generator is anoscillator adapted to produce electrical energy having an ultrasonicfrequency which may be in the range of 5,000 to 100,000 cycles persecond, but preferably in the range of 20,000 to 60,000 cycles persecond.

The ultrasonic motor 18 may be one of a variety of electromechanicaltypes, such as electrodynamic, piezoelectric and magnetostrictive. Theultrasonic motor 18 for effecting welding procedures through handdirected tools of suitable configuration, which are readily replaceableor inter-changeable with other work performing tools in accousticallyvibrated material treating devices, may be of the type well known in theart, and wherein each work tool member is rigidly joined in end-to-endrelationship to a connecting body or acoustic impedance transformer andto a transducer which may form an insert unit or assembly, which isremovably supported in a housing, containing a coil in surroundingrelationship to the transducer and receiving alternating current forproducing an alternating electromagnetic field.

The transducer in the ultrasonic motor 18 is longitudinally dimensionedso as to have lengths which are whole multiples of half-wavelengths ofthe compressional waves established therein at the frequency of thebiassed alternating current supplied so that longitudinal loops ofmotion as indicated by arrow 22, occur both at the end of the insertunit 24 to which the tool member 20 is rigidly connected and the workingsurface 26. Thus, the optimum amplitude of longitudinal vibration andhyper-accelerations of tool member 20 is achieved, and such amplitude isdetermined by the relationship of the masses of the tool member 20 andinsert unit 24 which may be made effective to either magnify or reducethe amplitude of the vibrations received from the transducer. The toolmember 20 may be permanently attached to the end of insert unit 24, forexample, by brazing, soldering or the like, or the tool may be providedwith a threaded stud (not shown) adapted to be screwed into a tappedhole in the end of insert unit 24 for effecting the rigid connection ofthe tool to the stem.

The support means 25 and the vibratory means 16 may be separateinstruments and utilized by one or more persons simultaneously, but yetindividually. For convenience they may be combined in one hand heldinstrument, for example, as disclosed herein.

It preferred the hand held instrument disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 3 may beemployed and in which the support means 25 is part of the instrument andincludes a pair of legs 35 and 36 respectively, secured together attheir lower end by bands 37 and provided with finger gripping means inthe form of individual lugs 38 that extend outwardly from the upper endof the legs for engagement by the fingers of the surgeon or operator 30in a manner hereinafter described. The leg 36 has a leg extension 39that terminates in a lower extension which is a support member or arm 40substantially at right angle to the leg extension 39, and is providedwith the support surface in the groove 27 in spaced relation to thebottom of the groove 26 of the tool member 20. The positioning means inthe form of the grooves 27 and 26 may take various forms and shapes toretain the hairs l1 and 12 in relatively fixed relation to eachotherduring welding.

The legs 35 and 36 are in spaced relation to each other and may becontoured to conform to the cylindrical configuration of the ultrasonictransducer housing 31. The generator 32 is connected to the transducer18 v by means of the cable 33 in a conventional manner. As

seen in FIG. 3 the cable 33mmay enter the ultrasonic motor 18 from theside so as to leave the rear end 42 free for engagement by the thumb orany other finger of the operator 30 to permit manual control of therelative displacement between the overlapping working and supportsurfaces.

The support means 25 is mounted for relative move ment, with respect tothe ultrasonic motor by providing a pair of slots 43 on each of the legs35 and 36, and which slots accept headed fasteners 45 which extendfromthe casing 31 through the slots 43 to permit free relative movementbetween the ultrasonic motor 18 and support means 25. The lower end ofthe casing 31 is provided with an annular shoulder 46 which is adaptedto receive spring means in the form of a spring 47, which is containedwithin the shoulder 46 at one end thereof and in engagement with thebands 37 at the opposite end thereof. The spring 47 applies a force inthe direction of arrow 48 so that the working surfaces of the supportmeans and ultrasonic motor means are biassed away from each other,whereby the force applied by the operator is requiredto separate theoverlapping working and support surfaces. The spring is' coupled to thesupportland ultrasonic motor means so as to force them together with apredetermined static force which might be varied in a conventionalmanner not shown. In this manner once the static force is determined forthe particular thickness of the hairs the resultant bonding may beobtained.

Accordingly the spring means may yieldably urge the support means 25 andtransducer means 18 relative to -'form the bond.

each other to a position wherein the working and support surfaces 21 and28 respectively, are normally in engagement with each other under apredetermined static force, so that the support and transducer means arefirst separated for the placement of the overlapping portions of hairs l1 and 12 therebetween. In contrast to this the spring means may beadjusted such that the working and support surfaces are normallymaintained in spacially fixed relation to each other, so that the hairsegments to be joined are positioned between the surfaces which arebrought together by the operation of the hand held instrument.

In accordance with the invention the joining of the hairs 11 and 12 maybe of a permanent or semi-permanent nature, and this is accomplished byproperly selecting the frequency, amplitude of ultrasonic mechanicalvibrations, and area of bond, to produce an optimum bonding of the hairsin their overlapping por' tions. The amplitude of vibration may be inthe range of 0.0001 to 0.10 inches.

For certain joining applications a bonding agent is used that may beapplied to the existing hair or added hair. For example, theadded hairsmay first be coated with a bonding agent at the end to be joined. Thebonding agent may be in a substantially solid state until the ultrasonicenergy is applied thereto, and then it becomes sufficently softened thatunder the influence of the static force applied the live hair is bondedthereto. When the ultrasonic energy is interrupted or terminated thenthe bonding agent becomes almost immediately hardened and set. The toolmember 20 and supporting means 25 may act as a heat sink so that thethermoplastic bonding agent is quickly chilled and set by the relativelycool surface of the adjoining solid structures. The bonding agent may beautomatically applied at the joining zone 14 simultaneously with thewelding energy being applied. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the tool member20 may have a'channel 49 terminating at one end at the slot 26 and atits other end on aside wall of the tool member 20 which in turn isconnected onto the hairs 11 and 12 When the energyis interrupted thebonding agent becomes hardened and set to FIG. 4, illustrates the scalpin which the live hair 11 extends therefrom with the bonding agent 55applied by applicator means 56, which may be in the form of a brush 57as illustrated. Obviously, the bonding agent may be applied to thesupplemental ,or the live hair and may be of a thickness from 0.00l to0.060 inches. i

.FIG. 5, illustrates the invention in which the live hair Ila extendingfrom the scalp 10a is joined to the artificial hair 120 with the bondingagent 55a extending therebetween. The bonding agent 55!; may be appliedsimultaneously with the welding thereof or prior thereto on the surfaceof one of the hairs so that it is substantially confined to the junctionportion or welding zone 14a. ,The bond is formed by positioning the Ioverlapping segments of the hairs Ila and 12a between working surface21a of a tool member 200 which is ultrasonically vibrated in thedirection of arrow 22a is brought into direct contact with the bondingagent 55a. The bonding agent 55a is generally selected to have theproperty of softening under the influence of ultrasonic mechanicalvibrations and quickly hardening into a solid state when the vibrationsare terminated. The ultrasonic energy is applied simultaneously with acompressive force to soften the bonding agent 55a whereby a fusion ofthe hairs 11a, 12a and bonding agent 55a occurs, when the energy isstopped ajunction is formed capable of withstanding the stresses appliedthereto when the hair is combed, etc. Accordingly the mechanicalvibrations may be applied directly to the bonding agent or through thehairs.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the invention in which the bonding agent 55bmay be first applied circumferentially to both the hair 11b extendingfrom the scalp 10b and the hair 12b. The hairs 11b and 12b are broughttogether to form a junction portion 14b in which the bonding agent 55bextends between the hairs to be joined. The portions of the hairscontaining the bonding agent 55b is positioned between the respectivesurfaces 21b and 28b of the tool member 20b and supporting means 25b.Upon the application of the ultrasonic energy in a plane substantiallynormal to the axis of the hairs the mechanical energy due to acousticsoftening causes a flow of the bonding agent until the formation of thejunction as seen in FIG. 7. The length I of the surface 21b and 28b maybe greater than thatof the bonding agent 55b. In addition the surfacemay be contoured to obtain a particular configuration for the formedjoint 14b.

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate the invention in which the bonding agent 55c fullyencompases the hair 12c in the form of a ring at one end thereof. Thebonding agent 55c may be applied when the hairs 12c are produced on anautomatic process as by dipping the ends thereof. As seen in FIG. 8, thebonding agent 550' is brought into overlapping relationship in the area14c with the hair l lc extending from the scalp 100. The junctionportion 140 is positioned between the member of the supporting means 250and tool member 20c'such that when the energy and compressive force isapplied the hair He is embedded within the bonding agent 550 as seen inFIGS. 9 and 10. In this manner the bonding agent 55c essentiallyencapsulates respective portions of thehair to form a permanent bond.

FIG. 11, illustrates the invention in which a multiple number of hairs12d may be joined at ajunction 14d to an existing hair 11d extendingfrom the scalp 10d. In this manner the degree of hair thickness may becontrolled. At each junction one or more hairs may be simultaneouslyjoined together. When two hairs are joined together, and a bonding agentis used, then the hairs 12d may be provided as a separate assembly withan axial clearance hole through which the natural hair may first bethreaded and then positioned at a desired distance from the scalp 10dbetween the supporting means 25d and tool member 20d while the latter isvibrated in the direction of arrow 22d.

FIG. 12 illustrates the invention wherein the bonding agent 55c may beapplied internally to the hollow core or cavity 58e of either the hairll-e and/or 12e. As the ultrasonic mechanical energy is applied-thebonding agent may pass through the wall of the hairs and provide adeposit therebetween to form the junction portion l4e. The hairs arepositioned in overlapping relation and compressed between the tool e andsupporting means e as the energy is applied in the direction of arrow22e. The joined hair l2e may be artificial in that it is manufacturedfrom a plastic or other material, or it may be human hair.

FlGS. 13 and 14 illustrate the invention in which the artificial hair12f is made from a plastic material and when it is attached to the livehair 11f a certain flow thereof occurs in the junction area 14f. Thevibratory energy when appliedwith the compressive force causes a flow ofthe hair 12f until it encompases the hair 11f and a firm bond isobtained.

CONCLUSION Accordingly, applicant has invented and disclosed herein anew and novel process and apparatus that may be used commercially, aswell as in the home, for the attachment of commercial hair to live hairto obtain a thickening thereof. In addition commercial hair may besecured to commercial hair using this invention as in the manufacture ofhair pieces.

Although the commercial hair has generally been illustrated as solid, itis appreciated that it may be tubular if desired and telescopicallyassociated with a live hair and joined with ultrasonic energy to obtainthe same desired end results within the scope of the inven tion.

Many other changes could be effected in the particular constructions,and in the methods of use and construction, and in specific detailsthereof, hereinbcfore set forth, without substantially departing fromthe in vention intended to be defined herein, the specific descriptionbeing merely of preferred embodiments capable of illustrating certainprinciples of the invention.

lclaim:

l. A hand held instrument for joining together over lapping portions ofsupplemental hairs and existing hairs on top of the head, comprising:

a. a toolmember having a working surface for contact with one of thehairs to be joined, transducer means operative to vibrate said work ingsurface of the tool member at a high frequency of at'least 5,000 cyclesper second and low amplitude, c. supporting means having a supportsurface for contact with the opposite hair to be joined, and

means for mounting said supporting means with respect to said transducermeans in a manner to permit relative displacement of said working andsupport surface towards and away from each other for engagement with theopposite sides of the overlapped hairs for applying a compressive forcethereto, wherein the overlapped portions of hair are joined together bythe combined action of the applied compressive force and ultrasonicvibrations, c. said tool member having a channel extending therein andterminating at one end of said working surface, means in communicatingrelation with said channel for supplying a bonding agent through saidchannel to one of said hairs in their area of overlap, said bondingagent becoming softened with the application of ultrasonic energythereto and flowing from said tool onto the contacted hair, and

f. said supporting means includes means for gripping the instrument bythe hand of the user to permit manual control of the relativedisplacement between said overlapping working and support surfaces.

2. A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 1, and further includingpositioning means associated with said supporting means to maintain saidhairs in relatively fixed position to each other during the applicationof said ultrasonic vibrations.

3. A hand held instrument as claimed in'claim 2, wherein saidpositioning means includes a slot on said supporting means.

4. A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 1, further includingspring means yieldably urging said support means and transducer meansfor relative movement with respect to each other.

5. A hand held instrument as in claim 4, wherein said relative movementis to a position wherein said working and support surface are normallyin engagement with each other under a predetermined static force,whereby said supporting and transducer means are first separated for theplacement of the hairs therebetween.

6. A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein a. saidtransducer means is containedin a housing,

and

b. said supporting means further includes a pair of spaced apart legs onopposite sides of said transducer. housing in fixed spaced relation toeach other with said gripping means extending from one end of said legs,and one of said legs at its opposite end terminating in a support armcontaining said support surfaces.

7. A hand held instrument for joining together overlapping portions ofsupplemental hairs and existing hairs on top of the head comprising:

a. supporting means having a surface for supporting the overlappingportions thereon,

b. positioning means communicating with said supporting surface forretention of said overlapping portions in said overlapping relationship,

c. a tool member having a working surface for contact with saidoverlapping portions,

. transducer means operative to vibrate said working surface of the toolmember at a high frequency of at least 5,000 cycles per second,

. means for mounting said supporting means with respect to saidtransducer means in a manner to permit relative displacement of saidworking and supporting surface towards and away from each other forengagement with the opposite sides of the overlapping portions forapplying a compressive force thereto, and wherein said relativedisplacement is to a position wherein said working and support surfacesare normally in engagement with each other under a predetermined staticforce, whereby said supporting and transducer means are first separatedfor placement of the hairs therebetween,

9 10 f. said tool member having a channel extending further includingspring means yieldably urging said therein and terminating at one end ofsaid working support means and transducer means for relativemovesurface, means in communicating relation with ment with respect toeach other. said channel for supplying a bonding agen 10. A hand heldinstrument as claimed in claim 7,

through Said channel to n of Said hairs in their 5 wherein saidpositioning means includes a slot on said area of overlap, said bondingagent becoming sof- Supporting means tened with the application ofultrasonic energy 11. A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 7,thereto and flowing from said tool onto said hair,

wherein p f a. said transducer means is contained in a housing, g. saidsupporting means includes means for gripping l0 and the instrument bythe hand of the user to permit manual control of the relativedisplacement between said overlapping working and support b. saidsupporting means further includes a pair of spaced apart legs onopposite sides of said trans- Surfaces ducer housing in fixed spacedrelation to each 8.'A hand held instrument asclaimed in claim 7,Otherwithsaid gripping meansextendins from one wherein said vibrationsare applied in a direction subend of a i one of legs at QPP F stantiallyparallel to the direction in which the comend termmmng Support arm w g ipressive'force is applied to said overlap ing portions, Support Suffdce-9. A hand held-instrument as claimed in claim 7,

2. A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 1, and further includingpositioning means associated with said supporting means to maintain saidhairs in relatively fixed position to each other during the applicationof said ultrasonic vibrations.
 3. A hand held instrument as claimed inclaim 2, wherein said positioning means includes a slot on saidsupporting means.
 4. A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 1,further including spring means yieldably urging said support means andtransducer means for relative movement with respect to each other.
 5. Ahand held instrument as in claim 4, wherein said relative movement is toa position wherein said working and support surface are normally inengagement with each other under a predetermined static force, wherebysaid supporting and transducer means are first separated for theplacement of the hairs therebetween.
 6. A hand held instrument asclaimed in claim 1, wherein a. said transducer means is contained in ahousing, and b. said supporting means further includes a pair of spacedapart legs on opposite sides of said transducer housing in fixed spacedrelation to each other with said gripping means extending from one endof said legs, and one of said legs at its opposite end terminating in asupport arm containing said support surfaces.
 7. A hand held instrumentfor joining together overlapping portions of supplemental hairs andexisting hairs on top of the head comprising: a. supporting means havinga surface for supporting the overlapping portions thereon, b.positioning means communicating with said supporting surface forretention of said overlapping portions in said overlapping relationship,c. a tool member having a working surface for contact with saidoverlapping portions, d. transducer means operative to vibrate saidworking surface of the tool member at a high frequency of at least 5,000cycles per second, e. means for mounting said supporting means withrespect to said transducer means in a manner to permit relativedisplacement of said working and supporting surface towards and awayfrom each other for engagement with the opposite sides of theoverlapping portions for applying a compressive force thereto, and ,wherein said relative displacement is to a position wherein said workingand support surfaces are normally in engagement with each other under apredetermined static force, whereby said supporting and transducer meansare first separated for placement of the hairs therebetween, f. saidtool member having a channel extending therein and terminating at oneend of said working surface, means in communicating relation with saidchannel for supplying a bonding agent through said channel to one ofsaid hairs in their area of overlap, said bonding agent becomingsoftened with the application of ultrasonic energy thereto and flowingfrom said tool onto said hair, and g. said supporting means includesmeans for gripping the instrument by the hand of the user to permitmanual control of the relative displacement between said overlappingworking and support surfaces.
 8. A hand held instrument as claimed inclaim 7, wherein said vibrations are applied in a directionsubstantially parallel to the direction in which the compressive forceis applied to said overlapping portions.
 9. A hand held instrument asclaimed in claim 7, further including spring means yieldably urging saidsupport means and transducer means for relative movement with respect toeach other.
 10. A hand held instrument as claimed in claim 7, whereinsaid positioning means includes a slot on said supporting means.
 11. Ahand held inStrument as claimed in claim 7, wherein a. said transducermeans is contained in a housing, and b. said supporting means furtherincludes a pair of spaced apart legs on opposite sides of saidtransducer housing in fixed spaced relation to each other with saidgripping means extending from one end of said legs, and one of said legsat its opposite end terminating in a support arm containing said supportsurface.